Afternoon, After Lunch Break
During the lunch break that followed, Sawamura Eriri stayed close to Minamoto Senya and Yukinoshita Yukino.
As the bell signaling the next period drew near, they each returned to their respective classrooms.
The moment Eriri stepped into her room, the bespectacled boy with black-rimmed glasses hurried toward her eagerly.
Although Senya's words earlier had lifted her mood somewhat, she still couldn't pretend everything was fine when standing face-to-face again with the childhood friend who had just been mocked alongside her.
The thorn lodged in her heart might have been pulled out, but the wound wasn't going to heal so quickly.
She answered his chatter half-heartedly, then returned to her seat.
Meanwhile, in another classroom across the building, Senya had witnessed the entire scene through his system's God's-Eye View. His fingers tapped a steady rhythm against his desk.
Just as I thought.
Third graders were already beginning to shed their carefree childhood innocence. They no longer brushed things off so easily.
From this stage forward, they started to build their own inner worlds—forming opinions, values, and sensitivities of their own.
A few kind words might temporarily ease Eriri's pain after being ridiculed, but that was only treating the symptom, not the cause.
And the biggest reason Senya was so sure she hadn't truly gotten over it…
…was that his system had yet to display the "Mission Complete" notification after he'd accepted the task.
[Because of this emotional wound, Sawamura Eriri has developed a mental block. Perhaps you can help her overcome it…]
Easier said than done.
Girls at this stage were especially delicate, their hearts far more fragile than they let on. Handling them was always the hardest.
That Afternoon
As usual, Senya didn't bother listening to class.
While practicing calligraphy strokes on fresh paper, he mulled over possible ways to resolve Eriri's mental knot.
Both classmates and teachers had long grown accustomed to this. To them, Senya wasn't like ordinary students; he was a prodigy who played by different rules.
After school, he and Yukino happened to run into Eriri and Aki Tomoya at the shoe lockers.
Eriri gave a polite greeting—grateful for their support earlier that day—before leaving with Tomoya.
Watching their backs fade into the crowd, Yukino spoke softly:
"You lied to Sawamura-san at lunch. You never actually read that manga, did you?"
Senya feigned shock. "What, you only realized that now?"
"I noticed back then," Yukino admitted, taking a measured breath. "I just didn't say anything until now."
"Oh? So next you're going to scold me, right? Something like, 'lying is bad'?"
Having her intentions guessed in advance, Yukino suddenly felt a rebellious urge not to give him the satisfaction. She changed the subject instead:
"During afternoon classes, Sawamura-san didn't look very energetic."
"Of course she didn't. Sensitive girls like her—well, their hearts are thinner than paper. It only takes a moment to tear them apart."
"…Then what do you plan to do?" Yukino pressed. She didn't know why, but she instinctively believed Senya wouldn't just abandon Eriri's problem.
Just like how, back in kindergarten, he had never left her to face loneliness on her own.
Her older sister used to tease her, saying Senya acted that way because he liked her.
But Yukino didn't believe that. To her, Senya simply hated seeing her isolated and vulnerable. That was why he had stuck by her side back then.
And perhaps the reason they were still together now in elementary school… was simply that things had continued naturally.
Senya changed into his outdoor shoes and shrugged."What else can I do? I already told Sawamura-san I was her fellow fan. And since you hate lies, the only way to satisfy both of you is to turn my words into reality."
Yukino's lips softened, her expression gentler than usual. She followed after him."So, will you actually read the manga tonight?"
"Yeah," Senya nodded. He had no intention of buying the volumes. These days, the internet was full of AI-narrated "watch-through" videos.
At double speed, he could get the gist quickly, then skim through detailed summaries and setting notes afterward. That would be more than enough to keep up appearances.
At the School Gate
As they exited, Yukino spotted Eriri and Tomoya again in the distance.
She resumed what she hadn't said earlier."Compared to Sawamura-san, Aki-kun handled it a little better. But you can still tell that being mocked today hit him hard."
"Oh, right," Senya said flatly, "I almost forgot he was even there."
"I'll think of something," he added casually. To him, it was hardly trouble—just another minor side quest.
Though he hadn't liked Tomoya much back in his old life as an anime fan, it wasn't like he could hold a grudge against a kid who was now only in elementary school.
Yukino shook her head. "His problem doesn't seem too severe. I'll handle it."
"You?" Senya's tone carried the faintest trace of amusement.
"…What?" Yukino frowned, clearly catching his suppressed laugh.
"Nothing," he smirked. "Just curious what you plan to do."
Yukino straightened, speaking with quiet conviction."He had the courage to talk back to those who mocked him. That proves he has a basic will to stand his ground.
The problem was his rebuttal—lacking sharpness, conviction, and persuasive force. If he can improve there, others will take him more seriously.
So I think I can give him advice in that area."
It was Yukino's first time earnestly trying to help someone else. Her thoughts were clear, logical, and—when spoken with such focus—surprisingly charming.
Senya thought her reasoning made sense. And besides, if she wanted to take on the responsibility, why not let her? One less task for him to worry about.
Evening at Home
After cooking dinner, Senya retreated straight to his room.
As always, his father, Minamoto Sanada, rose from bed in the early evening.
He ate the meal his son had prepared, then knocked on Senya's door before leaving for work.
Opening it, he saw his son watching anime on the new smartphone they'd bought this term. After hesitating, he simply said:
"…Don't stay up too late."
"I won't. Good luck at work, Dad."
Sanada nodded and left.
He always felt inadequate as a father—awkward, clumsy, and unskilled at raising children.
Back when Senya was in kindergarten, he'd worried endlessly about his boy's timidity and introversion, but there had been nothing he could do.
Somehow, though, his son had matured early on his own—independent, bright, and reliable.
As Senya grew older, he even began looking after his father in small ways.
Not long ago, the two had been watching the news together in the living room. When the topic of modern marriage trends came up, Senya had suddenly blurted out:
"Dad, if you have a woman you're close with, you should invite her over sometime. Don't worry about me."
Recalling that moment now, Sanada couldn't help but chuckle to himself.
On the street outside, two housewives passing by glanced at the handsome middle-aged man, their chatter pausing for a moment as they admired him.
My son is truly exceptional, Sanada thought warmly. His future will only get brighter.